Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-04-28

/. any PersOnei introducti Has til
response.
> Gould you not mansss II procur
, me an entrance into - eamblin,
! den r. she asked in ssrz.esk sntrsaty
. 81 fear that is impossil Was th,
} candid reply.
: "Then nv children - besgars,
; she bitterly shrieked II - despair
"My children. oh : ny anfortunat.
children Would to CD that we
were all together in tha sans grave
with your little sister! =
SO heart-rending pFss hsr lone. 81
fearful was ths-agc-5 Of her stssteas
as she s-bowed down upon her knees in
speechless prayer on the frozen ground,
that even the stranger could not with
bold his tears, and after celebrating
in silence a minute or more. he came
to a benevolent, yet reeklessly bold
conclusion.
Il cannot gain for you admission
into that house" he said, "but | can
do what is better-I can enter myself.
and save him from the fangs of the
wild beasts within, or perish in the
attempt"
"In the name of pity, do" she
prayed, rising to her feet, land I and
my dear ones will bless you forever"
II will" he rejoined, "but upon one
condition-that you Immediately re-
turn home out of this violent tempest.
and stay there patiently. until ! bring
your husband, even if that should not
be until morning"
~ consent" she exclaimed. in eager,
almost joyous tones. II will start this
instant, and may God prosper you in
your holy enterprise" And. as she
spoke, she disappeared behind the
thick curtain of darkness which, like
pail of impenetrable sable, covered
the earth and sky.
The stranger then passed over to
the old frame building, and gave three
low, distinct knocks on the door, each
separated by intervals of about half q
minute. These were promptly an
swered by two similar knocks from
within. He then knocked fourth
time, and the door opened few
inches, when a voice from the room
whispered the sign question-"What
is the timer
"To which he replied, ASK the
queen of hearts"
Where is she ?" asked the voice.
"Iu the left bower of the great
king" was the answer, when the shut
ter flew wide open, and he hurried
into the house; then the door was bolt
ed and closed as before.
The stranger passed through the
first apartment, which was in state
of total darkness, and entered the
second, which was brilliantly illumi-
mated, and where there were two card
tables in full operation, with eight or
ten busy players at each. A quick
glance at these showed him that the
object of his search was not present.
He went on into the next. and from
that to those beyond, it until he had
counted twelve, all similar in their
appearance, and having circles of men
engaged in the same perilous pastime;
but still he did not find the person
whom he had come to see and save.
He then approached dark corner,
and descended steep. narrow flight
of stairs. Here be found three in
dividuals in the act of sitting down to
a game Of poker, and. to his great de-
light, be discovered that one of them
was Major Ryan, although the latter
did not know him.
4 tall, heavy man, with q shining
bald head, inquired---"Stranger, would
you like to take hand? ?"
Il havn't no objection" replied the
other, in apparent embarrassment,
and affecting the tone and manners
Of boatman; "that is to say. il tother
fellers here are willin.
Certainly, sir" responded Major
Ryan, with a humorous smile.
Certainly" said powerful man,
with dark hairy face and piercing
slack eyes-"Certainly." he repeated,
provided you have sufficient money
to play the thing out; for it is but
right to inform you that We bet very
high. the ante itself being ten dollars;
and it is one Of our rules that no per-
son shall be permitted to leave the
table until he is either broken fat, or
unless unanimous consent be given,
which /, for one, am not sure to do. .
II guess as now / have ammunition
enough for a good long Eghs." answer.
ed the stranger, because have jisi